My Blog

I saw small flags of the different uaap schools affixed atop the cubicles all aligned neatly at the office. This brought back the old school spirit. Part and parcel would be "bidahan" sessions with the officemates coming from same or rival schools.

I was in a discussion with a friend that evening regarding education and schools. Somewhere in the middle of the discussion (kind of off topic), my friend said she prefers the two other rival schools (Ateneo and UP) than DLSU.

This got me thinking. I thought back on all the discussions I had before. It was kind of funny how the alumni of other rival schools would start to get too serious (or irritated) during "bidahan" sessions. As a La Sallian, I just take the things other people say in stride and just dish out "better insults" all in the name of fun.  I guess I usually end up as the surviving entity who would still be laughing at the insults. Does it make me a bad La Sallian because I didn’t become "serious" in defending my school? Well ang pikon ay talo. I never lost a "bidahan" session then.

As a student, I remember I get to complain a lot about tuition, poor facilities (although we have far superior facilities than most schools) how worthless the student council is etc. In short, I loved to complain (not to be taken out of context ) about my school. I had a lot of good times, I was active in extra curricular work, barkada gimmicks etc. I loved the course I was in. There were time I shake my head on different happenings ( atheist philosphy teacher challenging students to prove there is a God, excursion oriented courses, school chaplain at war with a student publication over "erotic" literary pieces - these are some of the most "exciting" pieces that came to mind)… TO an outsider, they sound weird but it only typifies how open and divers the university is.  Outside of occasional happenings, It was a relatively quiet school life . I was immersed in my field of study and graduated (I would say) well equipped to face the world.

Where is my school spirit? yes I attended a few basketball games. Saw a championship from the bleachers. I know about Relegio, Mores and Cultura etc. It seemed however that DLSU hasn’t incalcated to us the La Sallian ways. It seems I don’t have similar strong feelings when it comes to my school?

The other schools would really have the students believe that they are the heroes who will save the country, world and humanity. They have heroes in their ranks. I am exaggerating here of course but the my bottomline is it seems that the other schools really "mold" them to what they believe their values should be. Brainwashing is my harsh definition for this. It is not really bad if everything that is made you to believe jives with what you think and believe.

As I see myself now, I realized how valuable and successful the La Sallian education is to me. I don’t get bothered by the negative things they say about my school because I know they are not true and if they are, I take it. It always good to know how one can improve oneself. La Salle has taught me to be me. To be good in what I do. To believe in myself. Relegio, Mores and Cultura was considered too broad as a concept failing to give focus to what is meant to be a La Sallian. To an outsider, may be — but it typifies how a La Sallian should be. I believe it emphasizes our individualty. It opens up a world of possiblities. It is up to us to reach that goal. There are infinite number of ways to do good and the La Sallian values teach me to explore as many choices and decide for my own the best way to achieve it. This has trained me to do the "impossible". I would always say that the products of other schools may be able to concot impossible ideas and goals but you would need a La Sallian to make those things a reality. It will all be left at that — unachievable ideas if you left it to non-La Sallians.

I realize that I am not "sensitive" when my school is being bashed because I know they are superficial. Being a La Sallian is so inherent to me that I don’t break easily. Alumni of other schools get angry when their school is bashed because they really love their school? In my opinion no… They probably have an ideal/infallable concept of their school which they don’t probably really understand and so therefore break when tested. For me, I live my La Sallian values to a point I can’t distinguish myself from it. I am not saying I am perfect. In my imperfection, the La Sallian education has kept me strong and unwaivered. It has helped me survive, grow and live.

St. John Baptist De la Salle.,. Pray for us.
Live Jesus in our hearts… Forever.